A nation suffers, rest of the world seems 'oblivious'

Venezuela is bleeding. People are taking to the streets protesting against the abject food crisis that has thrown their future into uncertainty. Unfortunately, the international community and media seem indifferent to the misery of common people in the Latin American country.

In Venezuela, which was one of the biggest oil-rich countries, people are finding it tough to make two ends meet. Call it an absolute indifference on the part of President Nicolas Maduro, the country is neck deep into a mess that the rest of the world seems oblivious of.

Venezuela, one of the founder members of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was one of the world's largest oil exporters even four years back. In 2008, crude oil production at 2,394,020 barrels a day put the country in the tenth position among crude oil producers.

But that is all history. According to CNN, there are five major reasons behind the economic crisis the nation is facing: Oil crash, plummet of its currency Bolivar, fight for political power, debt and finally food crisis. Rate of crime is on a high, big companies are closing down.

And as expected Maduro and his opponents are busy in a game of mud-slinging over looking the larger picture. Maduro's opponents squarely put the blame on him for dragging the nation into this mess. They held him responsible for his socialist policies. Taking over of private farms and food processing plants have paid no dividends. Interestingly, the opposition parties have no clue as to how to ensure better days for the country.

There is not enough food for the country’s 31 million people. Economic debt bars Venezuela from importing. The website NPR reports, "Government-subsidised groceries are cheap, but in Maracaibo they are often smuggled into nearby Colombia — just 80 miles away — where they can then be sold for big profits."

But the leaders have failed to read the writings on the wall. Says Dany Bahar, a fellow at Brookings Institution and an associate with Harvard Centre for International Development to ABC News, "The political circumstances leading up to economic collapse in Venezuela have been happening for over a decade now, but the situation has greatly deteriorated in recent years because of plummeting crude prices, environmental factors and the failures of President Nicolas Maduro's government to address the country's woes."

Unless and until, these concerns are addressed, the country will be heading for a disaster with people resorting to mayhem. It is time the international community intervenes and takes the country out of this abysmal situation. The media needs to show more responsibility towards highlighting the grave areas leading to such a crisis.

At a time when people are attacking grocery stores that have little to offer, the crisis will only aggravate if not tackled firmly.